5 Steps to Install Linux on ChromeBook

Using Linux:

Desktop

The LXDE desktop is similar to the Windows XP desktop with the “Start” button replaced by a “Menu” button. It is an icon that looks like a bird of some kind (lower left hand corner). Just click on the icon to open the menus and select a program to run.

The File Manager icon is just to the right of the “Menu” button. Use it to browse the files on your computer.

If you prefer to Single-Click items on the desktop, open File Manager icon (or, on the menu, choose ACCESSORIES – FILE MANAGER.) In the program, click EDIT – PREFERENCES and tick the box “Open files with single click.”

To change the desktop wallpaper (or make other visual changes), right-click on a blank space of the desktop and select “Desktop Preferences.”

Cups is the print server for Linux (visit this link for information help setting it up.)

CUPS can be configured and monitored using a web interface, which by default is available at http://localhost:631/admin. The web interface can be used to perform all printer management tasks.

In order to perform administrative tasks via the web interface, you must either have the root account enabled on your server, or authenticate as a user in the lpadmin group. For security reasons, CUPS won’t authenticate a user that doesn’t have a password.

To add a user to the lpadmin group, run at the terminal prompt:

sudo usermod -aG lpadmin <yourusername>

After each change in the Cups configuration, restart the service with the command:

In Ubuntu, you can save the files almost any place you want. By default, they will share the downloads folder with the ChromeOS. When / if you delete the Crouton Environment, the files will remain. They can be used in ChromeOS as long as you saved them in a folder that ChromeOS allows you to use.

Hi Ray, I initially tried to upgrade to 14.04 LTSvia the promt I got in Unbuntu, after down loading 900 Mb it left me with a blank/dark screen.Somehow managed to turn computer off and the rebooted back into Chrome. Then thought I’d go back to your site and follow instructions, which I did but it comes up with

Be aware that dev mode is inherently insecure, even if you have a strong password in your chroot! Anyone can simply switch VTs and gain root access unless you’ve permanently assigned a Chromium OS root password. Encrypted chroots require you to set a Chromium OS root password, but are still only as secure as the passphrases you assign to them.

Ray, played around some more entered sudo sh -e ~/Downloads/crouton -u -r trusty -t audio, etc. this started but hung up part of the way through, tried a few more times, sane result then I tried; sudo sh -e ~/Downloads/crouton -u -n trusty this hung up once, restarted it and it finished the installation succesfully. started with sudo startlxde The only app I’ve got is Chrome which works fine (even have sound, which I didn’t have before) but there is no Thunderbird or any of the other apps I had, can you tell me how to go about getting applications. Also if possible how to recover my saved emails from my Unity Thunderbird. Thanks, Karel

With Linux, you get full computer programs (called packages in Linux). Check the bottom of the guide (above) for a list of the packages that I like and how to install them.
I stopped using TB for mail a LONG time ago. I much prefer to use the cloud-based GMail. However, you can use the above guide for installing any available package. Whether your mail will still be available is doubtful. If TB was storing the data locally, it is probably gone now – if you did not MANUALLY back up the data. That is what is so good about GMail. All the mail is kept in the cloud and can be accessed via phone, tablet, or computer. Google takes care of the backups and it is all free. With a computer, you access it via a browser. In iOS or Android, use the app.

maybe illigal but i must ask :), the linux under crouton uses the drivers from the chrome os, thus meaning crouton its a some kind of a virtual box, is it possible to install other Unix OS, lets say MAC OS X :), it will be illigal but rly cool, can you try this or it is “undoable” cheers